#MostEvil | Robert Porter, born 26 May 1985. of 13 Tyndale Grove, Belfast BT14 8HP – starved his pet husky to death and left his body in his kitchen for four months.
On May 20, 2014, an animal welfare officer went to Porter’s previous address in King William III Crescent, Maghera, following a complaint. Inside, he was immediately struck by the smell of a decomposing body. He found the remains of the dog, Prince, in the kitchen, and noted the animal was very thin.
Further searches of the house uncovered rubbish, including empty tins of dog food.
Saddest sight: Husky Prince was found starved to death in Robert Porter’s kitchen
Following a post-mortem examination, a pathologist found Prince was malnourished and weighed just 11kg. He had been dead for some time, his skin was dry and there was thick mould inside his mouth. There was no food in his stomach and the dog did not have a disease.
The post-mortem foundhe died from starvation and dehydration.
During police interview, Porter said he was Prince’s owner. He admitted the dog had been dead for four months before he was found and that he had not been fed for several weeks before he died.
District Judge Alan White described it as a “shocking” way for an animal’s life to end. He told Porter that he had seen photos of the dead dog which were “disgusting”.
Sentencing: 80 hours of community service; 12 month probation period; £266 costs. Disqualified from keeping any animal for five years (expired March 2021).
CONVICTED (2016) | Tracy Callander aka Tracy Heaney, born 6 December 1976, of Etna Drive, Ardoyne, Belfast BT14 – allowed her Akita-type dog to starve to death.
Callander pictured during her court appearance in February 2016
The unnamed dog was found emaciated and covered in his own excrement at the back of Callander’s north Belfast home. His b/iody was discovered by animal welfare officers who called to Callendar’s home in May 1015.
A solicitor for Belfast City Council explained that a post mortem on the dog determined that he had died from starvation due to neglect.
The unnamed dog (pictured) was left in a garden to starve to death and rot
During interview Callander admitted not feeding the dog but claimed she did not notice the animal losing weight as she didn’t venture out to the back of her house. She was charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and a further count of failure to meet the needs of an animal.
District Judge Ramsey said the case clearly crossed the custody threshold adding that Callendar had shown a callous disregard for the suffering of her pet.
He said she didn’t go near the dog and failed to take him into her notice.
A defence solicitor said his client was going through a period of significant personal trauma during the time of the dog’s neglect.
Judge Ramsey interjected saying that if Callendar found she was incapable of looking after the dog all she had to do was call the USPCA to come and take him away.
The judge added that it was hard to look past the picture taken by the animal welfare officers showing the emaciated dog covered in his own faeces.
“Starving to death is not a pleasant way to die. Her circumstances made her unable to look after the animal and she was probably unfit to look after herself,” he said.
Addressing Callander directly as he gave her a suspended prison sentence, Judge Ramsey asked her: “Do you realise how lucky you are not to be going to jail?”
Standing in the public gallery, Callendar replied that she was aware she was fortunate not to be sent to prison.
Sentencing | four months in prison suspended for three years; £69 court costs. Banned from keeping a pet or any animal for 15 years (expires February 2031).
CONVICTED (2016) | Shaun Peckham, born 30 May 1968, of Anscombe Close, Worthing BN11 5EW – prosecuted for animal cruelty after his two starving dogs were found roaming the streets
Before and after photos of neglected dog Kaiser
Shaun Peckham was traced after his Rottweiler called Kaiser and Labrador called Biscuit were found by passersby roaming the streets near his home.
The dogs were not chipped and were taken to be examined by a vet who said both pups were starving and that this was a case of cruelty.
The welfare team at Worthing District Council posted pictures of the dogs to their Facebook page, appealing for the owner to come forward.
Concerned residents gave up Peckham to the team and the police visited his property on December 22, 2014.
Two other dogs were found, but they were in healthy condition, and Peckham told the team Biscuit and Kaiser had in fact been stolen from him eight days before they were found.
He was interviewed under caution and said Kaiser was owned by his son, Lloyd Peckham, but that he was responsible for the dog and that his son lived elsewhere. He accepted that Biscuit belonged to him.
He once again said the dogs had been stolen but had not reported it to the police, also telling them “Biscuit had always been thin”.
The council’s dog wardens then received an expert report which said the state of the dogs was the result of a “prolonged period of inadequate or inappropriate nutrition”.
It would have taken the dogs eight weeks to reach the state they were in and so Peckham was taken to court where he pleaded guilty to charges under the Animal Welfare Act.
Sentencing: 12-month community order, 150 hours of unpaid work; ordered to have his two other dogs rehomed. Disqualified from keeping pets for five years (expired January 2021).
CONVICTED (2015) | Paul Sempey, born 14/04/1978, of Queen Street, Ballymena BT42 2BG – abandoned his pet dog to starve to death
Educationally challenged dog killer Paul Sempey and Tyson, the Staffy he left to die
Sempey had moved back to the home of his mother Jennifer Sempey, leaving black Staffy Tyson behind.
The charges were brought against Sempey by Mid and East Antrim Borough Council under the Welfare of Animals Act (NI) 2011, following an investigation by Animal Welfare Officers regarding offences in January 2015.
The Borough Warden had attended the property in January 2015 to follow up on a non-payment of a dog licence.
Supported by Mid and East Antrim Council’s Animal Welfare Officer, they returned to the property and found Tyson in a garage. The garage door had been open and the officers entered to find the “severely emaciated” dog barely alive, lying on a sofa.
Tyson was unable to get up and when officers approached the dog he was “cold to the touch”.
When the animal welfare officer touched Tyson’s stomach, he winced in pain.
Tyson was so poorly he couldn’t be saved
Tyson was taken to a local veterinary practice but had to be put to sleep due to his condition.
Prosecution added that it had been noted that Tyson’s temperature was so cold his “blood was beginning to decompose”.
District Judge Des Perry described it as a “bad, bad case” of animal neglect.
Sempey’s lawyer provided a medical report to the Judge about his client, adding that he (Sempey) had “educational issues”.
“The reason this arose was because he moved back to live with his mother and she did not want him bringing the dog to her house,” Mr Smyth said.
He added: “He had no alternative arrangements. He effectively abandoned the animal.”
Speaking after the case David Wilson from the USPCA said people should receive custodial sentences for such crimes. He added: “This man deserves to have a custodial sentence imposed to give him time to reflect on what happened.
“He allowed the situation to go on, but now he can walk free over Christmas thanks to this suspended sentence.
“The USPCA does welcome the lifetime ban imposed on this man, particularly as it includes any warm-blooded animal.
“However, one of the main issues the USPCA has with these bans is that there is no central register to keep a note of these people who have received bans.
“We have been calling for this register for some time and it is currently under review.”
Sentencing: six months in prison suspended for two years; legal costs of £116. Disqualified for life from the keeping of any ‘warm blooded animal’.
#MostEvil | Aleshia Frances McLaverty, born 10/01/1992, of 226 Islandbawn Drive, Antrim BT41 1JE – abandoned a five-month-old puppy in a flat, where his starved body was found hanging from blinds
McLaverty admitted a charge of cruelty after the body of the maggot-infested Labrador cross, known as Sam, was discovered by shocked animal welfare officers at a flat registered to her in the Greystone estate in Antrim.
She pleaded guilty to charges of permitting unnecessary pain or distress to a dog under her control and being the keeper of a dog without a valid licence.
Victim Sam died a horrible death through dehydration and starvation after being abandoned by Aleshia McLaverty
Deputy District Judge Chris Holmes said pictures he was shown in the case were “the worst photos I have ever seen of cruelty to an animal”.
Malcolm Irvine, prosecuting on behalf of Antrim and Newtownabbey Borough Council, said after receiving a report from a member of the public about a dead dog at a property, animal welfare officers gained entry to the Firmount Drive address in April 2014 to be met with a “pungent” smell and a house full of flies with floors covered with dog faeces.
Sam was found dead hanging upside down from a blind cord with maggots in his mouth and eyes.
Mr Irvine said there was no food and the toilet bowl was dry suggesting the dog had drank from it and there were scratch marks on packets of food consistent with the dog trying to find something to eat.
A post mortem revealed Sam died of dehydration and starvation. He was likely in his death throes as he tried to jump through a window in a last gasp bid to escape but then became entangled on a blind.
During interviews McLaverty first said the dog belonged to her sister and that she herself did not live in the house as she had gone to stay with her mother but later in court she pleaded guilty to the offences.
Defence barrister Aaron Thompson said it was a “tragic case of passive neglect” and said the house was registered to McLaverty but she took nothing to do with it and her sister had lived in the address at some stage.
He said although McLaverty owned the dog she did not have direct control of him and the house was “abandoned”. He said she had not lived there for some time and the dog was trapped in the house when she became pregnant and went to live with her mother.
He said it was the sort of tragic case which “captures the ire of the community” and he said McLaverty, who now lives with her partner and their child, was “very emotional and distressed” and came to the court with a “good character” and with a clear record.
By her guilty plea he said she accepted she knew the dog was in the house and “effectively did nothing about it”.
Suspending a two months jail term for two years, District Judge Alan White said he had to give credit for the guilty plea and her clear record and the fact she has a “new baby”.
In the Greystone estate, local people expressed their disgust at the death of the dog.
One resident who did not wish to be named, who had seen inside the house, said: “It was disgrace what happened to that dog, we believe it was trying to escape through the window when it became entangled and there were tufts of hair left on the blinds and the house was full of dog faeces”
Sentencing: two-month jail term, suspended for two years Banned from keeping animals for just five years (expired August 2020).
CONVICTED (2015) | puppy farmer Margaret Helen Davies, born 21 August 1948, of Hagloe House, Awre Road, Blakeney GL15 4AA, but as of 2022 believed to be in Barry, South Wales, – continued to breed dogs after her licence was refused.
In January 2015 Davies pleaded guilty to operating a breeding establishment without a licence.
Magistrates heard Davies’s puppy farm had been licensed by Forest of Dean District Council since 2007. In March 2014 the Licensing Committee refused her application for a new licence, which would have allowed her to continue breeding pugs, chihuahuas, poodles and Boston terriers, with around 100 breeding bitches and their puppies being kept in sub-standard wooden kennels.
A separate breeding licence application by Davies’s daughter Helen Pike and her husband Richard Pike was also refused during the same hearing.
Despite no longer having a licence to advertise and sell puppies, Davies continued to breed in excess of 78 puppies.
Sentencing: fined £300 and ordered to pay a £30 victim surcharge and £1,000 costs. Disqualified from operating a breeding establishment for a period of three years (expired 2018).
It was reported that an order under the Animal Welfare Act had been made against Margaret Davies and husband William Robert Davies (born August 1945). This came after council inspectors found two dead puppies amongst many dogs being kept in dark, filthy, overheated and pest-infested conditions at their home.
Faeces had piled up in the pens at the alleged puppy farm run by the pair, and some dogs had little daylight and limited drinking water.
Barrister Greg Gordon, representing Forest of Dean District Council, said that twelve dogs and two litters of puppies had been removed by council inspectors and others had since been signed over to the council’s care.
The Davies were not present in court and were not legally represented. An interim order depriving them of the puppy farming operation was made by the magistrates pending a full hearing in January 2022.
Mr Gordon said the dogs had been seized from Hagloe House, Blakeney, because they were suffering from signs of neglect and had been certified as such by inspectors and a vet.
“On July 1 this year [2021] the Forest of Dean District Council executed a search warrant on the property and found dogs in four different locations in the grounds of the property.”
“A farm shed had been converted into kennels and was home to two Corgis, three terriers and a Samoyed. There was an overpowering and acrid smell of urine and faeces, which got worse the further in the inspectors entered the building.
“The central walkway was surrounded by separate pens and was covered in used bedding which was covered in faeces. The concrete floor had a very thin layer of shredded paper. There was no clean or comfortable bedding provided and there was no access to water.
“These pens hadn’t been cleaned for some time and it appeared that the dogs were rotated from one pen to another.
“In a second barn, which was much worse than the first, with poor natural light, there were 12 dogs, four French bulldogs, four Schnauzers and four terriers. The bulldogs were in enclosed pens which had even less natural lighting.
“These dogs were penned in to what would be classed as overcrowding. There was a build-up of flies due to the amount of faeces in the barn. Only one bowl of water was visible, which was also contaminated by faeces.
“The whole site raised health concerns and was suffering from a lack of pest control.
“One of the bulldogs had visible problems with its eyes. The inspectors told Margaret Davies that no dogs were to be housed in the second barn and seized the 12 dogs there, which were signed over to the district council.”
Mr Gordon said the Davies were told that criminal proceedings were likely to take place in due course.
Mr Gordon told the magistrates that despite improvement notices issued by the district council the Davies’ had done little to comply.
Mr Gordon added: “The dogs should be re-homed as it is in the best interests of the animals’ welfare.”
“Two Scotties and two corgis were kept in metal grilled pens which offered no shelter from heat or rain and lived among a growing pile of faeces.
“In the main house there were five dogs, two of which were seized during the first visit. A Corgi was penned in with her litter of eight puppies, one of which was unresponsive and lifeless.
“One of the inspectors picked this puppy up and shows it to Margaret Davies, who appeared to be wholly uncaring over its welfare.
“The Corgi and her puppies were in front of an Aga in the month of July. It was hot.
“There was a cage in a back room, which was poorly lit and had poor ventilation. Two Schnauzers were housed inside, each with their litter of puppies. A heat lamp was resting on top of the cage making the metalwork too hot to touch.
“One of these puppies, belonging to a Schnauzer, was also lifeless.”
Mr Gordon alleged that the court heard that the following day the Davies were served with an improvement notice, but they made little effort to comply with the order. They had provided fire extinguishers and made some attempt at pest control, but little else – in fact things had got worse with even less drinking water available.
Some effort had been made to remove the faeces as this had been scooped up by a digger and left in the trough.
Mr Gordon said: “The Davies have shown complete disregard for housing the dogs properly, as there was enough space to do so.
“The cost to the council in dealing with this has been in the region of £17,000, which is mainly made up of vets fees as the animals have been placed in foster homes until this case is resolved.”
The magistrates granted the interim deprivation order, which will be formalised at a hearing on January 26, 2022.
On 26 January 2022 Margaret and William Davies were ordered to pay legal costs of £19,762.50 plus the expenses of caring for twenty neglected dogs and puppies that were seized from their home by animal welfare officers.
Barrister Greg Gordon, representing Forest of Dean Council, explained that twelve dogs and two litters of puppies had been removed by council inspectors on July 1 and 8, 2021 and others had since been signed over to the council’s care.
Mr Gordon said: “Today’s hearing is only about money. The order to remove the animals was dealt with at a previous hearing. The only issues that could not be dealt with on that occasion were the monetary issues.
“There are two claims against the Davies’. These are the expenses in keeping the dogs – keeping them kennelled and healthy, vets bills and the like, which amounts to £17,820.
“The animals were kept by the local authority from the beginning of July 2021, until the end of September. This was 10 adult dogs and 10 puppies. Two had already been fostered out.
“All the dogs are now in foster homes so there are no ongoing costs.
“The legal costs for this prosecution come to £1,942.50. The issue for the court is effectively the Davies’ ability to pay these costs.
“There are three sets of assets: the farm itself which is valued at £1.3million, but legal enforcements against the farm all but wipe out any equity in this property.
“The Davies’ also have a retirement bungalow, which has some equity in it and there is also some farm equipment on site, which is valued at approximately £60,000.
“This we believe is enough to pay the costs being requested. However, in the circumstances, we suggest that the Davies’ have a year in which to pay these costs.”
Mr Gordon added that the dogs had been seized because they were suffering from signs of neglect and had been certified as such by inspectors and a vet.
Margaret and William Davies, both pensioners, were not present in court but were represented by Aled Owen, who told the magistrates: “This hearing is effectively a preamble to other litigation due in March.
“This elderly couple are in a difficult situation and are embarrassed that they have got themselves into such a poor financial position. They were rather naive in their outlook.
“There are proceedings ongoing at the county court in respect of a bridging loan taken out 10 years ago. This small sum has escalated over the years.
“There is concern among the farming community about the growing number of asset rich but cash poor farmers still operating today who have been targeted by specialist companies.
“If the farm is retained by the Davies’ they have control in how much they get for it when it is sold. A ‘fire sale’ would also raise valuable funds.
“But a court may instruct others to sell the farm on the Davies’ behalf, which in all likelihood place the couple in negative equity.
“However, the retirement bungalow has some equity in it, as does the farming machinery. The couple are currently living off the state pension. “Aside from the court hearing in March, there is more litigation still in the pipeline. There is no income from the farm as it ceased being used as an agricultural farm some years ago due to Mr Davies’ illness.”
Presiding Justice Dr Rennie Thompson said: “We have given the matter due consideration and we find that the prosecution costs are proportional and reasonable.
“There has been a considerable effort to mitigate the costs of looking after these animals by fostering and other methods to keep the costs down.
“We appreciate the financial situation this couple find themselves in, but we understand that there is equity in other assets other than the main farm itself.
“We therefore award the full costs, including legal fees, of £19,762.50 to Forest of Dean District Council and that is to be paid in full in 12 months.”
Margaret Davies, who now reportedly lives in Amhurst Crescent, Barry, South Wales, was banned from keeping dogs for life after she admitted causing unnecessary suffering to pets in her care at a suspected puppy farm.
She pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a 14-month-old French bulldog called Winston by failing to get veterinary treatment for a variety of conditions, and a similar charge involving another French bulldog, Amelia, by failing to get treatment for tumours and blindness in one eye.
Davies also admitted causing unnecessary suffering to a seven-year-old Schnauzer, ‘Nathalie,’ by failing to provide veterinary treatment for severe and painful periodontitis which led to 20 teeth having to be extracted.
She also admitted to meet the needs of 27 dogs and puppies in her care by failing to provide adequate drinking water, clean bedding, a suitable diet and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease on July 1, 2021.
Three charges against Mrs Davies’ husband William Davies were withdrawn after the prosecution offered no evidence.
Heath Thomas, defending, said that his client would benefit from a pre-sentence report before she is sentenced.
District Judge Nicholas Wattam imposed an immediate ban on Davies owning dogs for the rest of her life.
He also ordered for pre-sentence reports to be prepared on her. Davies was released on unconditional bail to return to the court on February 6, 2023, for sentencing.
On Monday 27 March 2023 Margaret Davies was given a 36-week jail term suspended for 18 months after admitting five animal welfare charges. She was also ordered to pay court costs of £9,104.11.
She was banned from keeping dogs for life.
Davies, who now lives in Barry, South Wales, admitted three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to three dogs by failing to seek veterinary treatment for them.
She also admitted failing to meet the needs of 27 dogs and puppies in her care by failing to provide adequate drinking water, clean bedding, a suitable diet and protection from pain, suffering, injury and disease.
A compensation order of £17,820 imposed last year to cover the cost of kennelling and veterinary treatment for the dogs has still not been paid, the court heard.
Aled Owen, defending, said Davies began dog breeding to help the dairy farm’s finances.
He said the venture had initially “thrived” but she had struggled when new legislation was introduced.
Mr Owen said: “Davies increasingly found the paperwork side of the business more and more difficult, which coincided with her husband becoming ill at around the time of the visit of the inspectors and the loss of a younger family member.
“Davies admits that there were issues that needed to be attended too, but she was juggling so much in her private life that something had to give.”
Judge Nicholas Wattam told Davies said the conditions on the farm had caused serious injury to a number of dogs.
“This is a case where there was prolonged ill-treatment with the animals in your care and this continued, despite being given advice from animal welfare officers,” he added.
CONVICTED (2014) | backyard breeder Joanne Terry, born 03/07/1981, of 10 Winfields, Pitsea, Basildon SS13 1HQ – involved in dog-fighting, severe animal neglect, two dogs dead.
Joanne Terry, formerly of Third Avenue, Dagenham, was convicted and banned for life from owning any animal after being found guilty of animal cruelty offences. One of the dogs was in such a poor condition that he had to be put to sleep.
Despite the appalling nature of her crimes, Terry escaped a prison sentence.
Barking and Dagenham’s Street Enforcement team visited Terry’s home on 1 October 2013 when neighbours raised concerns. There they found two dogs attacking a dead dog in the rear garden. That dog had been killed in a dog fight.
During the visit, the officers also found a litter of eight bulldog-type dogs. The officers were concerned about the welfare and condition of the puppies so applied for a warrant to seize the dogs.
On 4 October 2013, the officers, dog warden and police recovered the eight puppies. The officers heard whining and found two emaciated adult bulldogs and recovered them as well.
All adult dogs and puppies were examined by a local vet but the adult male was so badly neglected that he had to be put to sleep. Following the conviction, the court gave custody of the dogs to the Council for rehoming.
Sentence: eight-week suspended prison sentence, £380 fine for animal cruelty, life ban on owning any animal.
CONVICTED (2014) | Ann Marie Nash, born 02/11/1975, previously of Chester Road, Erdington, Birmingham but more recently (2020) of Gladstone Street, Stockton-on-Tees TS18 3EY- for cruelty to an emaciated bulldog found dying in a gutter
Evil Ann Marie Nash
Qualified veterinary nurse Nash admitted locking the dog, named Martha, out of her house.
Martha was found lying near a gutter in Erdington in July 2013 and was rushed to a vet by a member of the public.
Martha was gravely ill when discovered abandoned by Ann-Marie Nash and was sadly put to sleep on humane grounds
An examination marked her as 1.5 out of 5 on the body mass index chart and found a football-sized blockage of bones in the abdomen and toe nails that were growing into the tissue of her paws.
Nothing could be done to save the stricken dog and Birmingham City Council launched an investigation into how the bulldog got into such an appalling state.
The court was told that Nash was traced because Martha had been micro chipped; Nash had adopted the dog the year before from a charity specialising in rehoming British Bulldogs.
Admitting an animal cruelty charge, Nash told Birmingham Magistrates that she had lost her job and had been forced to rely on food bank handouts to feed herself; she said she was also suffering from depression.
Nash, who had previously fostered abandoned animals, said she was “extremely remorseful” for what she had done.
A spokeswoman for Birmingham City Council, said: “This sad case highlights how important it is for people to look after their pets and that they owe them a duty of care.
“While many pet owners love their animals and take good care of them, ensuring they are well fed and maintained, there are some who do not understand their responsibility, and unfortunately our dog wardens are seeing more of these kinds of cases.
“This is why it’s so important to highlight what can happen to the owner, as well as their pet, if they are neglected or disowned, and the judge was very clear that Ms Nash will go to prison if she breaks the terms of her sentence.”
Sentence: 12-week prison sentence, suspended for a year; 100 hours’ community service, 12-month supervision order, £200 court costs, £80 victim surcharge.Five-year ban (expired 2019).
CONVICTED (2009) | breeder Melanie Jean King, born 10/08/1954, of Station Farm, Station Road, Appledore, Ashford TN26 2DG – kept dozens of dogs in cramped and squalid conditions
Melanie King, formerly of Whents Farm in Teynham, near Sittingbourne, was given a suspended prison sentence, ordered to undertake unpaid work and to pay over £1000 in costs to Swale Council after breaching the conditions of her dog-breeding licence.
She was sentenced at Sittingbourne Magistrates’ Court after pleading guilty to 24 offences under Section 1 of the Breeding of Dogs Act 1973.
The court was shown a number of images of 40 dogs on her farm kept in cramped and squalid conditions.
Vets inspecting the premises in December 2008 had raised serious concerns about breeding conditions at the establishment.
It was agreed a new licence would be granted to King for a temporary period. This was to allow her time to deal with hygiene issues raised.
But on three further inspections by council officers and the RSPCA between February and March 2009, numerous breaches of the breeding licence were discovered which led to the prosecution.
In sentencing, magistrates told King that had she failed to plead guilty at an early stage, they would have imposed a custodial sentence.
Speaking after sentencing, Swale council’s environmental response manager, Alister Andrews, said: “This conviction is a significant victory not only for us, but also for the animals which were kept at this establishment.”
Sentencing: 140-day suspended prison sentence; 150 hours’ unpaid work; £1,100 costs. Banned for life from breeding dogs, although this was reduced on appeal to just seven years in 2011 (expired).
